Skip to main content

Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Italian, American, 1883-1962
Italian-born Francesco Spicuzza was primarily a Wisconsin painter who did portraits, still-lives and local landscapes. He spent the first part of his life in near-poverty to become a painter. An eternal optimist, in 1917, the artist reported: "I am happy and my only ambition now is to paint better and better until I shall have reached the measure of the best of which I am capable." (Spicuzza, 1917, p. 22). His predilection for beach scenes germinated early: reportedly, the five-year-old boy first drew the outlines of his father's fishing boat in the sand on the seashore near their home in Sicily. After setting himself up as a fruit peddler in Milwaukee, Spicuzza's father sent for his family when Francesco was eight years old. In 1899 or 1900, Spicuzza began studying drawing and anatomy under Robert Schade (1861-1912), a painter of panoramas who had been trained in Munich under Carl Theodor von Piloty. Spicuzza was also taught by Alexander Mueller (1872-1935), a product of the Weimar and Munich academies. The earliest influences in his work appear to be from Edward H. Potthast and Maurice Prendergast, though Spicuzza never mentioned either artist. Already in August 1910, Spicuzza was described in a newspaper as "one of the most talented of Milwaukee's rising workers." He undoubtedly received lasting inspiration from his one summer study period in 1911 with John F. Carlson at the Art Students League's Summer School in Woodstock, New York. Although he executed numerous still-lives and an occasional religious work, Spicuzza is best known for his Milwaukee beach scenes populated with frolicking bathers in multi-colored attire, not unlike the images of Potthast, who used a similar technique. These beach genre scenes reflect the attitude of American impressionists who depicted the more pleasant side of life. Spicuzza manipulated a successful balance of rich pigment applied in varying degrees of impasto texture with subtle nuances of hue. Working all'aperto, he sought "the soft enticing shades of yellow, blue, green, pink and lavender . . . to get the effects of bright glistening summer air." (L.E.S., n.d.). As a painter whose color not only derived from direct observation but also from a personal theory of color symbolism, Spicuzza traded the linear approach of lithography for dynamic patches of brilliant color. Like Prendergast, he would often tilt the angle of the picture plane to bring the viewer's position above the scene. Spicuzza spent a great deal of time painting en plein air and by 1925 he began summering at Big Cedar Lake, near West Bend, Wisconsin to gather his subject matter. During the difficult era of the Depression, patrons came to Spicuzza's aid and during the 40s, he taught housewives, businessmen and students at the Milwaukee Art Institute, the Milwaukee Art Center, and in his studio. In the following decade, although his kind of art was no longer popular in the "make-it-or-break-it" New York gallery world, Spicuzza enjoyed regular patronage and sales. Bio by Richard H. Love and Michael Preston Worley, Ph.D.
to
5
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
6
1
5
1
4
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
5
5
1
1
17
597
359
271
248
2
1
6
Artist: Francesco Spicuzza
"Lake Michigan Beach Scene, " Oil on Canvas Seascape signed by Francesco Spicuzza
By Francesco Spicuzza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Lake Michigan Beach Scene" is an original oil painting by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist painted this scene on canvas and then glued that canvas to a b...
Category

1930s Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Lake Michigan Shore, " Oil on Board, Signed
By Francesco Spicuzza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Lake Michigan Shore" is an original oil painting on board by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist shows the impact of Impressionism in his landscapes from around 1930. "Lake Michigan Shor...
Category

1930s Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Rocky Shore, " Oil on Board Abstract Landscape Signed
By Francesco Spicuzza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Rocky Shore" is an original oil painting on board by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece with his signature stamp in the lower right. Land and water are clearly demarcat...
Category

1930s Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Early 20th century colorful seaside landscape pastel figures bench trees signed
By Francesco Spicuzza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Couple on Bench at the Beach" is an original pastel drawing on paperboard by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece in the lower left. This drawing depicts two figures sitting on a bench in front of a body of water. The artist used mostly pastel colors for this piece. 6 7/8" x 9 7/8" art 18 1/2" x 21 3/8" frame Francesco J. Spicuzza, born in Sicily on July 23, 1883, came to America at the age of 8. He supported himself as a fruit peddler until a newspaperman gave him $4 a week to go to school. He attended classes at the Milwaukee Art Students League, where he studied under Alexander Mueller. There he learned to paint in the then-fashionable "Munich School" technique, with detailed realism in heavy browns and grayed-out hues. Spicuzza completed eight grades in four years, and then in 1911, three businessmen advanced him enough money to allow him to study in New York under artist and teacher John Carlson. It was during this time that Spicuzza changed his style of painting, developing an impressionistic use of color, form and atmospheric renditions. After a period of grinding poverty, one of Spicuzza's pictures won a major New York competition. It was the first of 60 wins, both in the U.S. and Paris. He became a fashionable painter, and many of the leading collections have his work. Spicuzza's typical works were beach scenes, still life, landscapes and portraits done in pastels, oils, ink, charcoal and watercolors. Much of his work traced the history of Milwaukee in the early 1900s. He was probably best known for his scenes of women and children splashing in the waves...
Category

1910s Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel, Board

"Snowcapped Mountain, " Oil on Board signed by Francesco Spicuzza
By Francesco Spicuzza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Snowcapped Mountain" is an original oil painting on board by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist signed it with his signature stamp in the lower left. This painting depicts a mountain pe...
Category

1930s Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Cabin on Lake Michigan Shore, " Oil on Board signed by Francesco Spicuzza
By Francesco Spicuzza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Cabin on Lake Michigan Shore" is an original oil painting on board by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece in the lower left. It depicts a small cabin on the lakeshore surrounded by bright vegetation. 14" x 20" art 22 3/4" x 29" frame Francesco J. Spicuzza, born in Sicily on July 23, 1883, came to America at the age of 8. He supported himself as a fruit peddler until a newspaperman gave him $4 a week to go to school. He attended classes at the Milwaukee Art Students League, where he studied under Alexander Mueller. There he learned to paint in the then-fashionable "Munich School" technique, with detailed realism in heavy browns and grayed-out hues. Spicuzza completed eight grades in four years, and then in 1911, three businessmen advanced him enough money to allow him to study in New York under artist and teacher John Carlson. It was during this time that Spicuzza changed his style of painting, developing an impressionistic use of color, form and atmospheric renditions. After a period of grinding poverty, one of Spicuzza's pictures won a major New York competition. It was the first of 60 wins, both in the U.S. and Paris. He became a fashionable painter, and many of the leading collections have his work. Spicuzza's typical works were beach scenes, still life, landscapes and portraits done in pastels, oils, ink, charcoal and watercolors. Much of his work traced the history of Milwaukee in the early 1900s. He was probably best known for his scenes of women and children splashing in the waves...
Category

1930s Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Related Items
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Located in Columbia, MO
One of the most prolific and acclaimed illustrators of the 20th century, Mark English produced work for such publications as McCalls, Time, Sports Illustrated, and Redbook before co-...
Category

1980s Contemporary Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Gouache, Illustration Board

HMS Glasgow returning from Falklands - Shipping Scene Warship & other Vessels
Located in Preston, GB
HMS Glasgow returning from the Falkland Islands - Shipping Scene Warship & other Vessels by British Artist Norman Elford GRA (1931 - 2007) Art measures...
Category

1980s Realist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Along The Creek" Point Pleasant Pike Bucks County Bucks County PA River Snow
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful Impressionist winter pastoral scene of colorful quaint homes by the river. Willet has portrayed this piece in a most intimate, yet energetic way, and has packed much feel...
Category

20th Century American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"West Village Coffee Stop" Oil Painting of a Plein Air Street NYC with Figures
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
"With shades of Pierre Bonnard’s Parisian street vistas and Edward Hopper’s New York shopfronts, American impressionist Cindy Shaoul’s oil paintings depict the much-loved locales and...
Category

2010s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Board, Canvas, Oil

Owen Waters, Impressionist landscape, circle of Edward Seago
Located in Harkstead, GB
A wonderful example of the artist's work depicting an idyllic scene in the Norfolk countryside. Owen Waters (1916-2004) Norfolk pastures Signed Oil on board 12 x 16 inches excluding...
Category

Late 20th Century Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Angel oak tree. Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
When you gaze upon this majestic oak tree, it’s impossible not to be transported back to the simplicity and wonder of childhood. For me, it brings memories of carefree afternoons spe...
Category

2010s Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Spanish school landscape with river oil painting Spain
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Oil on canvas glued to board. Oil measures 25x40 cm. Frameless. Illegible signature.
Category

1920s Barbizon School Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil, Canvas

Mid Century Figurative Landscape -- Aptos Village Apple Shed and Market
By Jon Blanchette
Located in Soquel, CA
Charming mid century figurative landscape of Aptos Village Apple Shed and Market by listed California artist Jon Blanchette (American, 1908-1987). Aptos is just south of Santa Cruz,...
Category

1960s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Afternoon Stroll, American Impressionist, Figure on Forest Path, Landscape
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Juliet M. White was born in Philadelphia in 1880. She studied at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, which became the largest art school for women in the United States. Its ...
Category

20th Century American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"The Green Parasol, " Henry Hannig, American Impressionist, Woman in Beach Scene
By Henry Hannig
Located in New York, NY
Henry Charles Hannig (1883 - 1948) The Green Parasol Oil on canvas mounted on board 6 x 7 3/4 inches Provenance: R.H. Love Galleries, Chicago, Illinois Private Collection, Lake Orion, Michigan Hannig, born in Hirschberg, Germany on 27 February 1883, came to America with his parents at the age of seven. He attended school in the southwest suburbs before the family settled in Chicago. Young Henry enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts where Lawton Parker became his mentor. He made ends meet by working in industrial design and illustration. By 1908 he was a pupil in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where students followed the traditional European drawing curriculum, beginning with the copying of master engravings and drawing after plaster casts, then concentrating on the nude figure. Students worked toward the goal of winning various academic prizes. One of Hannig's fellow students was Louis Ritman...
Category

1910s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Afternoon Pastorale, Post-Impressionist Landscape Oil Painting by Gilbert Boyd
Located in Long Island City, NY
Afternoon Pastorale Gilbert Boyd, Irish/American (1896–1981) Date: circa 1950 Oil on Board, signed Size: 23.5 x 29.5 in. (59.69 x 74.93 cm)
Category

1950s Post-Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Morning Sunrise, Mid Century Laguna Hills Figurative Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful mid century plein air figural landscape of Laguna Niguel, California by an unknown artist (American, 20th Century). The morning sun gli...
Category

1950s American Modern Francesco Spicuzza Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Francesco Spicuzza landscape paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Francesco Spicuzza landscape paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Francesco Spicuzza in board, oil paint, paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Francesco Spicuzza landscape paintings, so small editions measuring 18 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Samuel Hyde Harris, Constantine Kluge, and Simka Simkhovitch. Francesco Spicuzza landscape paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,780 and tops out at $24,500, while the average work can sell for $5,788.

Recently Viewed

View All